My tour had at least two reservists as door gunners. They were told in no uncertain terms that it was competitive and they may not make it. Neither did - the guy from my regiment was sent to BG and the guy from FGH came to my platoon. It seems they ended up short, and my regiment got another guy in who actually deployed, and in his words "made a lot of grape juice." The tour was longer too - the TF returned in May, and he returned in August.

I have two buddies who are doing this, both infantry reservists on Class B for a couple years. It was literally a matter of the class B opportunities were posted, and quickly snapped up by those who heard of them first. It's temporary positions being filled in because frankly it would be a waste of skilled aircrew to have them sit behind a gun- whereas infantry reservists seeking work are a dime a dozen, and generally are already familiar with MGs to some extent.

One of the guys I know previously did the job on tour. He was sitting on replacement pool in Oscar Coy for TF 3-08 when an NCO walked in and baldly asked "Who wants to be a helicopter door gunner?" He was met with crickets- it sounded too much like a "Who likes ice cream?". Eventually my buddy and a couple other guys cautiously put their hands up- and away they went to be helicopter door gunners.

It's not an armoured position or any such thing- they're door gunners and that's all.

DG is becoming an off shoot specialty (similar to Cbt Diver or Jumper) and will most likely be called Air Gnr - with roots to WWII Air Gunners on the bombers. It will be manned solely by Cbt Arms NCMs, Cpl - Sgt with a WO potentially as section comd. Tour experience preferred as they are the SMEs on the ground if it were to come to that - which draws on CH147 Afghan experiences. Tac Hel Sqns on High Readiness will have a section complement assigned to them. No word on how 450 will crack this nut yet.